Talking research in Washington, D.C.

by on February 17, 2012 at 4:22 pm | 0 Comments
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Dr. John Reed with Daniel Webster, Congressman from Florida's 8th District

Dr. John Reed with Daniel Webster, Congressman from Florida's 8th District

On February 2, Sanford-Burnham CEO Dr. John Reed traveled to Washington D.C., where he described at several Capitol Hill briefings how important NIH funding is to the life sciences sector and, in turn, to America’s economy. He and Scott Salka, CEO of CendR Inc., a biotech start-up that spun out of Sanford-Burnham in 2010, participated as part of CONNECT’s “Innovation 101” series of Capitol Hill Briefings on life sciences research.

CONNECT, a regional program that catalyzes the creation of innovative technology and life sciences products and companies in San Diego County, described the significance of this undertaking by saying, “As life science research institutions increase their focus on commercialization of discoveries and develop strategies to help start-up companies succeed, it is imperative that Congress and the Obama administration understand how federal research funding results in successful discoveries, start-ups, and job creation.”

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Collaborating for cancer research education

by on February 10, 2012 at 4:42 pm | 0 Comments
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Fresno State faculty member Jason Bush and one of his former students, Shana Morshedian, now a research assistant in John Reed's lab.

Fresno State faculty member Jason Bush and one of his former students, Shana Morshedian, now a research assistant in John Reed's lab.

Last week, faculty from California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) and Sanford-Burnham met to define the next steps in the Collaborative Project in Cancer Health Disparities Research.

Sanford-Burnham, Fresno State, and the Central Valley Health Policy Institute share this collaborative project, funded by the National Cancer Institute. Their mission is to train undergraduate and graduate students for future cancer research careers and enhance cancer research potential at Fresno State (a minority-serving institution). The three-year grant gives Fresno State minority students the opportunity to spend a summer in Sanford-Burnham laboratories, where they become more familiar with biomedical research.

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Center for Nanomedicine receives grant from Hearst Foundations

by on February 1, 2012 at 7:35 am | 0 Comments
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Jamey Marth, Ph.D.

Dr. Jamey Marth

The Hearst Foundations recently awarded Sanford-Burnham with a grant to advance research in the Institute’s Center for Nanomedicine (CNM), led by Director Jamey Marth, Ph.D.

The CNM is a partnership between Sanford-Burnham and the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) that combines world-class expertise in biology, engineering, materials science, chemistry, physics, and computational modeling to address fundamental biomedical problems. The Center seeks to discover effective diagnostics and treatments, and ultimately cures, for human diseases including cancer, diabetes, and various degenerative diseases.

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Jeanne and Gary Herberger endow Cancer Center Director Chair

by on January 31, 2012 at 10:01 am | 0 Comments
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Jeanne and Gary Herberger

Jeanne and Gary Herberger

Jeanne and Gary Herberger, longtime generous supporters of Sanford-Burnham, have just made a substantial gift to the Institute. Their donation establishes the endowed Jeanne and Gary Herberger Leadership Chair in Cancer Research, which will be held by Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D., Sanford-Burnham’s president, Pauline and Stanley Foster Presidential Chair, and director of the Institute’s Cancer Center.

The new endowed chair adds to the generous support provided to Sanford-Burnham by the Herbergers in the past several years. Jeanne Herberger is currently serving as a member of the Institute’s Board of Trustees, where she sits on the Executive Committee. The couple chaired the Institute’s highly successful annual gala, Mining for a Cure, in 2011.

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The momentum continues

by on January 26, 2012 at 9:10 am | 0 Comments
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Dr. John Reed

Dr. John Reed speaks to the Sanford-Burnham community at his State of the Institute address.

Each January, John Reed, Sanford-Burnham’s CEO, reviews the accomplishments of the previous year in his State of the Institute address, which he presents to our community at both our Orlando and San Diego locations. This year, he reflected not just on 2011, but on the past decade. It was 10 years ago—in January 2002—that Reed was first named CEO. An accomplished scientist in his own right, Reed has led the Institute during a period of tremendous growth.

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Five reasons to make a year-end gift to Sanford-Burnham

by on December 26, 2011 at 5:48 am | 0 Comments
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Sanford-Burnham researchers

Researchers envision a brighter future for people suffering from disease. You can help.

As you look back on 2011, what are you grateful for? What are your hopes for 2012? Help us make the new year a year of advances in medical research. Here are five reasons to make a tax-deductible gift by December 31.
 

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A rare approach for a rare disease

by on November 23, 2011 at 12:29 pm | 2 Comments
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Mayor Hall of Bakersfield cuts the ribbon to open Salon Gianna. Beside him is Gianna, with Dr. Hudson Freeze and her mother, Natalie. On the right are Rocket’s parents, Mia and Taylor Williams, and Gianna’s father, David.

Mayor Hall of Bakersfield cuts the ribbon to open Salon Gianna. Beside him is Gianna, with Dr. Hudson Freeze and her mother, Natalie. On the right are Rocket’s parents, Mia and Taylor Williams, and Gianna’s father, David.

People who care about curing disease can be very creative in finding ways to raise money for research. Whether someone raises money and awareness by walking 60 miles, growing a mustache, or spending $50,000 on a pair of novelty sneakers, people’s passions fuel research funding.

The family that owns Salon Gianna, a beauty salon in Bakersfield, California, is on a mission to find a cure for Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG). All of their proceeds are earmarked for The Rocket Fund at Sanford-Burnham, which is overseen by Dr. Hudson Freeze. CDG is actually a group of more than 30 rare diseases caused by inherited defects in glycosylation, the process cells use to coat proteins with sugars. Young patients have a broad spectrum of clinical problems often including developmental delay, serious intestinal and liver complications, clotting defects, eye, skin, and other defects. Dr. Freeze’s lab seeks to treat and cure these diseases, often working closely with the families of affected children.

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What they’re walking for

by on November 18, 2011 at 11:13 am | 0 Comments
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Participants in the San Diego Susan G. Komen for the Cure 3-Day Walk head up to Torrey Pines Mesa, where many research institutions benefit from their dedication.

Participants in the San Diego Susan G. Komen for the Cure 3-Day Walk head up to Torrey Pines Mesa, where many research institutions benefit from their dedication.

Of all the 60 miles that the participants in the Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day walk this week, the ones that take them across the Torrey Pines Mesa may be the most significant—or at least the most symbolic.

The walk, which begins today, brings these dedicated supporters up a long hill from Del Mar, CA, into the heart of San Diego’s biomedical research hub. Sanford-Burnham alone has been the recipient of approximately $3 million in grants from Susan G. Komen for the Cure since 1982. Other research institutions in the area, including The Scripps Research Institute, the Salk Institute, and the University of California, San Diego, have likewise applied Komen funding toward a greater understanding of breast cancer and, ultimately, a cure. (Learn more about where Komen’s funding goes here.)

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Every ONE counts toward fighting disease

by on November 10, 2011 at 5:06 pm | 0 Comments
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Photo by Rob Lee, www.flickr.com/photos/roblee/

Photo by Rob Lee, www.flickr.com/photos/roblee/

In science we know that little things add up to big things. The human body contains trillions of cells, and within each of those cells, billions of proteins do the work that keeps those cells, and in turn, the body, functioning. And each one of those cells has a purpose.

As a not-for-profit medical research institute, Sanford-Burnham relies on donations from individuals and foundations—in addition to grant funding—to continue its scientific progress day after day. Big donations make news. But even little ones make a difference.

Today, on 11/11/11, we want to remind supporters of medical research that every ONE counts. Dollar by dollar, your tax-deductible gifts make an impact. You may not think of yourself as a philanthropist, but you can play a part. With any contribution, you are supporting medical research—which has the potential to touch millions of lives.

Give $1. Give $11. Give $111, or as much as you are inspired to! Visit this link to make a gift. And there is another way you can make a difference. Help spread the word about our 11/11/11 Every ONE Counts fundraising effort on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Thank you for your support!

Meet some of our other supporters here.

The Atlantic Meets Sanford-Burnham

by on November 1, 2011 at 2:15 pm | 0 Comments
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The Atlantic Meets the Pacific lab experience

A group from The Atlantic Meets the Pacific conference tours the Stem Cell Research Center at Sanford-Burnham's San Diego campus. (Photo by Mark Dastrup)

When The Atlantic magazine was looking for a location to host its first West Coast symposium, the Torrey Pines Mesa area of San Diego sprang to their attention. As Atlantic Vice President Elizabeth Baker Keffer wrote in her welcome, “The research hub of San Diego makes this the perfect location to experience the interdisciplinary experiments occurring on the front line of discovery.” They partnered with UC San Diego to present The Atlantic Meets the Pacific, October 17-19.

Sanford-Burnham joined The Scripps Research Institute, the Salk Institute, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and UC San Diego’s Calit2 and Moores Cancer Center in representing the powerhouse of scientific ideas that resides here overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

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Gala guests help us strike gold

by on October 18, 2011 at 9:39 am | 0 Comments
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Dr. John Reed and Jeanne Herberger at Mining for a Cure

Auctioneer Bill Menish introduces Sanford-Burnham CEO Dr. John Reed and Gala Chair Jeanne Herberger.

Nearly 250 enthusiastic supporters turned out to show their support for Sanford-Burnham’s research efforts on Saturday, October 15, at the Institute’s gala, “Mining for a Cure.” The evening highlighted the Institute’s pioneering spirit, likening the search for treatments and cures for disease to the prospecting efforts of the adventurous California gold miners of the 1840s. We are happy and grateful to announce that the event raised more than $1.7 million for medical research.

Dr. John Reed, Sanford-Burnham’s CEO, spoke about the Institute’s 35 years of discoveries, mentioning that our accomplishments today would not be possible if not for the vision of Dr. William and Lillian Fishman, who founded the Institute in 1976. He highlighted how much progress Institute researchers have made in disease areas such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, children’s diseases, and many others. Dr. Reed reminded the audience that through their philanthropic gifts, Sanford-Burnham can accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into benefits for patients.

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A visit from Congressman Duncan D. Hunter

by on September 2, 2011 at 8:58 am | 0 Comments
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CEO Dr. John Reed (left) and Congressman Duncan D. Hunter

CEO Dr. John Reed (left) and Congressman Duncan D. Hunter

Sanford-Burnham often welcomes public figures or community leaders onto its campuses to share the work taking place at the Institute. Congressman Duncan D. Hunter, U.S. Representative for California’s 52nd congressional district, expressed his gratitude at having drug discovery illuminated for him during a recent visit to the Institute’s La Jolla campus.

During his tour, Congressman Hunter met with Brandon Nelson, manager of the Stem Cell Core, one of Sanford-Burnham’s valuable Shared Resources. Nelson presented some recent advances in stem cell biology, including how researchers are using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells to generate heart and nerve cells. With this tool, scientists are able to model diseases in a dish and test potential new medicines. Congressman Hunter even took a look at beating cardiomyocytes (heart cells) under a microscope.

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Renowned biochemist joins Sanford-Burnham

by on July 19, 2011 at 3:01 pm | 0 Comments
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Dr. Randal J. Kaufman

Dr. Randal J. Kaufman

This month we welcomed Sanford-Burnham’s newest faculty member, Dr. Randal J. Kaufman. Dr. Kaufman joins the Institute as  professor and director of the Degenerative Disease Research Program, in the Del E. Webb Neuroscience, Aging and Stem Cell Research Center.

“I am looking forward to the opportunities for collaboration that Sanford-Burnham affords,” Dr. Kaufman says. “This promises to be a very productive environment for my area of research.”

Dr. Kaufman’s current research is focused on understanding the fundamental mechanisms that regulate protein folding and the cellular responses to the accumulation of unfolded proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). When proteins fail to fold correctly, they don’t work properly. Certain types of misfolded proteins defy eradication by the cellular protein degradation machinery and accumulate with age, causing cellular toxicity. In many degenerative diseases, including neurological, metabolic, genetic and inflammatory diseases, it’s thought that the accumulation of misfolded proteins leads to cellular dysfunction and death.

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An experience to last a lifetime

by on July 15, 2011 at 4:29 pm | 0 Comments
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The students in this year's Preuss School UCSD internship program, in Bradley Plaza on the La Jolla campus.

The students in this year's Preuss School UCSD intership program, in Bradley Plaza on the La Jolla campus.

A group of 12 San Diego high school students has been waking up early all week and making the most of their summer break. If you look at their Facebook pages you might see updates saying things things like, “OMG, silencing DAF2 gene in C. elegans–amazing.” An internship program taking place at Sanford-Burnham demonstrates that the right educational opportunities have the power to get young people excited about science and perhaps change their lives.

That was the case for Tony Chau, who completed the Sanford-Burnham/Preuss School UCSD Summer Internship program in 2009. This fall he heads to Duke University, complete with a scholarship, to double major in Biomedical Engineering and Economics. “The internship program helped me greatly through the rest of high school and in applying to college,” he recalls. “The people I met and the experiences I had will stay with me throughout my career.”

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Coming soon: Medscape’s “Developments to Watch”

by on July 1, 2011 at 7:08 am | 0 Comments
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Dr. Evan Snyder (right) interviews his colleague, Dr. Steven Smith, on the Medscape set.

Dr. Evan Snyder interviews his colleague, Dr. Steven Smith, on the Medscape set.

Last week, Sanford-Burnham’s Fishman Auditorium, on the Institute’s La Jolla campus, was transformed into a temporary television studio. It was hardly recognizable under the bright lights and set dressing. Medical website Medscape recorded interviews with three Sanford-Burnham researchers for a new video series called “Developments to Watch.” The talk show-like discussions were hosted by Dr. Evan Snyder, who directs the Stem Cells and Regenerative Biology Program at Sanford-Burnham. Dr. Snyder is both a medical doctor who regularly sees patients and a scientist who conducts research in his own lab – the perfect person to help explain how discoveries made today might one day help patients.

Medscape is part of the network of sites run by WebMD. With this newest video series, Sanford-Burnham scientists will be providing expert commentary and information to help keep Medscape’s audience – primary care physicians, specialists and other health professionals – up-to-date on the latest medical research and what it means for their patients.

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